Chemin de Le Puy-en-Velay – May 30, 2015 – Planning and Preparing for my next Camino

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”  –  Pablo Picasso

 One day you will be able to see this post, and the others that I have already posted! I’m having trouble, to say the least. I have been told that it can take weeks to appear in a ‘search’ correctly, with just the Title name. When I do a ‘search’ snipits come up, but not the whole post, pictures are oversized and only one of the many pictures in that entry, text not included, everything out of alignment, not good. It will take more learning and patience. I was also advised to carry on posting, the more entries, the more that will appear. And so I shall continue as I have been doing.  As I mentioned in a previous post, the great truth of the Camino, “What is Needed is Provided.”  In due time, all will run smoothly!

Now what I really wanted to talk about.

Those of you that have done the Camino, will recognize this iconic ‘Santiago Peregrino.’ He was always in front of The Cathedral, in Santiago de Compostela.

When I retrieved this from my 2010 Camino pictures, I was so surprised at his expression and pointing, accusing finger. What could I have possibly been doing!!!  Maybe I wasn’t to  take pictures? …I don’t think so, I am sure I saw him often posing for pictures with other Pilgrims. The only other photo of him, I took on the wrong setting, a big blur!

The reason that I was searching for this picture, about the middle of May 2015, I read an article, that he had passed away. I was very sorry, as he was an important part of my Camino experience, and he will be missed, by those returning to Santiago de Compostela. The article also contained a bit about his life, which was interesting. I thought that I had saved it, but now I cannot locate the page. If anyone can help, thank you.

I have also done some other preparing. I ordered from The Confraternity of St. James in London, England, three books/brochures on the Chemin de Le Puy route that I will be taking in France, from Le Puy-en-Velay to St Jean-Pied-de-port. I can’t wait for them to arrive. I expect that should be next week. Yeah!   The books are:

Miam-miam-dodo: GR65-GR651, la Voie de Puy 2015

Chemins de Compostella map book

Le Puy to the Pyrenees

Chemin de Le Puy-en-Velay – May 24, 2015 – Planning and Preparing for my next Camino

 “Little by little, one travels far.”  –  J.R.R. Tolkien

I think that the above quote, is very appropriate today!

It was a beautiful day in Vancouver and I took the opportunity to walk for several hours, casually and leisurely.  My Camino preparations were never very far from my mind.

And now another part of my preparations, this blog. Yesterday, I mentioned ‘Magical Morning Mist.’  A couple of my pictures from the Frances Route, of the Camino de Santiago in 2010

Magical Morning Mist

Dew, Cob-webs

Morning Mist Rising

I also have a few pictures of ‘Horreos’ that I love! Horreos are typically a granary, to protect crops from rodents. They are mostly found in the Northwest of Spain, Galicia and Asturias, and in Northern Portugal. Each one is unique.

Horreo

Horreo

Horreo in need of TLC

 A few other shots from the same area of Galicia. Enjoy!

Love the Stone Homes

The beautiful wild Heather, Daisies, Buttercups

One Incredible Tree!

End of the Day

Look at the Sky!

Chemin de Le Puy-en-Velay – May 23, 2015 – Planning and Preparing for my next Camino

“To Journey and be transformed by the Journey is to be a Pilgrim.” – Mark Neppo 

Wow! First post ever, and many more to come! As you can see from my Sidebar, I am planning to start my Camino in August 2015, or sooner. As yet I am not able to set a date or book my flights. As soon as I am able, I will let everyone know.

In the meantime this blog is part of my preparation and planning, and is a huge learning curve for me.

The top header is a picture from my Camino in 2010. Do you see the yellow arrow on the tree on the right?

This picture, as innocent as it may appear to you, is the essence to me, of the familiar saying of the Camino, “What is needed is provided.” 

The day before I took this picture, I had been walking with a German girl when we arrived in Sarria. We soon found that all the accommodations were filled, but someone directed us to a small house, the man had one bed left! I told the girl to take it and I would walk on. I walked and walked through several villages, I could find nothing! It was now almost dark.  I began to think, I will have to sit under a tree….but I needed water. I eventually came to a crossroads and there was a small tiende, I bought my water, and with a sort of sign language I indicated sleep. The lady almost pushed me into a chair, went to wall dial-up phone, chatted away to someone, then she indicated that I was to stay where I was.  Soon a car drove up and a young woman came in, she did speak a little English. As it turned out she ran a school for sheep farming, but the school was not in session at that time, and I could stay there. The school was about 6-7 km away, and was fabulous accommodation. My choice of any of the rooms, beds, showers, kitchens, a library and a view (the next day). She also gave me from the school kitchens, bread, cheese, fruit, veg, meat and coffee. I cannot express how grateful I was.

The next morning was gorgeous, with a slight ground mist, almost magical as I walked the several km back to the trail, stopping in to again thank the kind lady in the shop.

The picture is where I picked up the trail again.

The girl, that had stayed in Sarria, I met again in Santiago de Compostella, we spent a bit of time together, had some good laughs. Such is the ways of The Way.